IT was the in January at the turn of the century when my golf mentor, Alex Prieto, broached the idea of my writing for IGM.

I was just finishing 18 months of my ME program in the Asian Institute of Management. Prior to that, I was the official message writer of my family for family gatherings, greeting cards and family show scripts. My mind was still fresh from imbibing the lectures of my adviser and guru Prof. Ed Morato on self mastery.

Passion for whatever one chose to undertake was the vital consideration in any endeavour, my guru used to say. Golf was a passion for me. To say I loved the sport would hardly be an apt description of my devotion to practicing and playing it. I could not stop thinking about it, I would shift my weight during mass, practice the one piece takeaway while waiting in line or sometimes if I needed to walk a long way, I would practice gauging distances and count paces to train my distance estimation.

Writing about it was another story. I was not sure I could produce a column once a month.

What could I possibly write about month after month? I was not trained as a writer, nor was I a profound thinker not even in golf that anyone would be interested to read my column.

But I decided to give it a try on the condition that if my stories ever ran out, I could always stop writing. Besides, the magazine was free. All the reader had to do was turn the page or toss away the issue. I would not have to face any senate inquiry or civil suit.

What surprised me, however, is that I had stories to tell and I enjoyed writing these stories.

Definitely the literary liberties made the stories even more enjoyable to write.
The challenges of finding one every month became lighter as the deadlines came and went.

Has it been 10 years since March 2000? My life directions have taken turns every ten years.

I have chosen to pursue another undertaking that for now has taken much time from my golf game. The stories in my mind have veered away from the sport and toward something else. I feel that another passion has taken over me.
Suffice it to say that I dedicated myself to write the best that I could for every issue of IGM. I researched and prepared for every deadline piece. It pains me when I do not feel that I have written something that I am not proud to call my own.

I would rather stop writing rather than churn out mediocrity.

My current pursuit has nothing to do with golf, it certainly will take much of my attention and for the next year and will require all of what I have to give of myself.

The past ten years have been one big party for me. To all those that gave me the encouragement to keep writing, to those that sent in comments and suggestions, to my friends that gave me their stories to write and to my wife, who though is not a golfer, gave me the valuable advice on my writing and to my editor Jong Arcano and the Inquirer family, I thank you for the opportunity to write for IGM.

I enjoyed this experience. I am surprised to have gotten away with pretending to be a writer all these years but then again I suppose the passion for the game has given me something like the apostles tongues of fire.

Whatever it was, this has been a blast for me.

Till the next time, palo mga bata!
<em>(I’ll take the liberty to tell those following the monthly columns of Arsenic that he’s going to fight the biggest battle of his life next year when he runs for public office. Running has been great part of the life of Arsenic, a champion athlete who once held a record in UAAP track and field. We will certainly miss the wit and humor of a La Sallianand his terms of endearment not only for his wife and sons but his mother-in-law as well. Such a great family man so different from golfers we know. Suffice to say that the Inquirer Golf’s loss is a big gain for that part of the country where he is targetting to be its trusted servant. We can only wish him the best for this long journey and we’ll be too happy to address him Congressman Sir just in case he’ll decide to re-occupy the space he held for exactly 10 years and write about what he loves best after next year’s elections. So long Arsenic, may you be an agent of change in this country we dearly love-Ed) </em>

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